Exercise Addiction and Health Risks in Gym Users

NCT07061509 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: ExerciseAdd-1
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This observational study aims to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries and cardiovascular risk factors among individuals with and without exercise addiction. Adult recreational gym users who have been engaging in resistance training for at least six months will be included. Participants will be divided into two groups based on their exercise dependence levels, and outcomes such as musculoskeletal symptoms, anabolic substance use, and cardiovascular risk scores will be compared between groups.

Conditions

Exercise Addiction; Cardiovascular Abnormalities

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries

  Assessment of musculoskeletal injuries and symptoms using the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire.

  Baseline

• Cardiovascular risk score

  Evaluation of 10-year cardiovascular risk using the SCORE Risk Assessment System based on systolic blood pressure, smoking status, cholesterol, and blood glucose.

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Prevalence of anabolic steroid use

  Baseline

• Exercise dependence level

  Baseline

• Drive for muscularity

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

Exercise-Dependent Group

Participants identified as "exercise dependent" based on scores from the Exercise Dependence Scale-21 (EDS-21). These individuals train at least 3 times per week and meet the criteria for exercise addiction.

Other: Battery of Physical and Psychological Assessments

Non-Dependent Group

Participants who engage in regular resistance training (≥3 times/week) but do not meet the criteria for exercise addiction, based on EDS-21 scores.

Other: Battery of Physical and Psychological Assessments

Interventions

Battery of Physical and Psychological Assessments OTHER

Participants in this observational study will not receive any therapeutic intervention. Instead, all individuals will undergo a series of standardized non-invasive assessments for data collection purposes. These include the Exercise Dependence Scale-21 (EDS-21) to classify exercise addiction status, the Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS) to evaluate body image and muscle-related attitudes, and the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire to determine the presence and severity of musculoskeletal symptoms. Cardiovascular risk will be assessed using the SCORE Risk Assessment System, which incorporates blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, smoking status, and demographic data. Additional measurements will include oxygen saturation and heart rate using pulse oximetry, and blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer. These evaluations are intended solely for comparative analysis between exercise-dependent and non-dependent groups.

Exercise-Dependent Group; Non-Dependent Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 85 Years
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of healthy adult individuals aged 18 years or older who are members of fitness centers in Istanbul and have been regularly engaging in resistance or bodybuilding training for at least six months. All participants must exercise at least three times per week and meet the inclusion criteria. Individuals will be divided into two groups based on their exercise dependence status: those who meet the criteria for exercise addiction and those who do not. Participants with professional athletic status or a diagnosed psychiatric illness will be excluded. The population represents recreational gym users with varying attitudes toward exercise behavior, body image, and supplement use, providing a real-world sample for assessing the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular impacts of exercise addiction.

You may qualify if:

• Aged ≥18 years
• Member of a fitness center
• Regular physical activity (≥3 times per week)
• Voluntary participation with informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosed psychiatric illness
• Professional or elite athletes
• Incomplete questionnaire data

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi: lead

Study Sites (1)

Esra Pehlivan

Istanbul, Üsküdar, 34668, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cardiovascular Abnormalities

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cardiovascular Diseases; Congenital Abnormalities; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities

Central Study Contacts

Esra Pehlivan, Associate Professor

CONTACT

+90216 777 87 77; esra.pehlivan@sbu.edu.tr

Erdem Bal

CONTACT

2103006804@ogrenci.sbu.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 2, 2025
• First Posted: July 11, 2025
• Study Start: July 29, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 20, 2026
• Last Updated: July 30, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Locations

TU (1)